good morning, jon. >> reporter: good morning, robin. there is no presidential candidate with more momentum right now than michele bachmann. ♪ my home in -- >> reporter: no republican presidential candidate has taken a harder line on the debt ceiling showdown than michele bachmann. >> we were all shocked and appalled that president obamama dangled out in front of the cameras that senior citizens may not get their checks. that's a very dangerous statement to make. we don't believe -- excuse me. excuse me. we don't believe that for a moment. >> reporter: tough talk from bachmann is nothing new but she now speaks with new-found authority as a top tier contender for the republican presidential nomination. a new national poll puts bachmann firmly in second place as the leading challenger to front-runner mitt romney. and in key first caucus state iowa, three separate polls over the past week put bachmann in first place. >> republican primary voters are looking for somebody who has -- brings some excitement, who brings something different to